Buying a ring over $1000

[swoodie1]

Hi does anyone have any experience with purchasing items from the US on eBay with a value over $1000 and they live in Australia? I am finding a possible purchase quite daunting. I know there is GST + duty + import fee. I presume the ring was made in the US and might qualify for a trade exemption (unlikely) and therefore I don't pay the duty. The ring is quite cheap compared to Australian prices and I presume they will value the ring at hyper-Aussie prices for tax/duty purchases. What is your experience on this?

Also, who makes the declaration to Customs? The carrier would be FedEx and then presumably Star once it is internal in Australia. Do FedEx or Star do the declaration on behalf of me or do I contact a customs broker about it? (I'm so time poor and the legislation/advice is so convoluted, I don't think I could do the dec myself).

Help! Any advice welcome.
Thanks in advance
Swoodie1

[lyndal1838]

You had better be sure that it is American made before trying to dispute the duty.....18carat gold is not asual in America.

[gemsttonepette]

This ring is a lot more than $1000. Asscher cuts with GIA certificates don't grow on trees. And colour F with IF clarity, that's two colour grades away from the highest grading possible. 

There is a myth that Australian jewellers have to pay higher prices than the US price. Today with the big diamond merchants online, retailers have the choice, they can buy local or import them. And they can import them from anywhere they like, even direct from the diamond cutting centres of Antwerp or Mumbai.

If this ring is too cheap to be true I would worry about the paperwork or the source of the ring. If it was just a common diamond ring with average stones of average quality, there can be a multitude of reasons why it might be sold cheap. Asscher cut diamonds of such rarified quality do not have to be sacrificed in any market.

The description of the ring raises far more questions than it answers. Good luck with it though, I hope it is every bit the bargain you are expecting.

[gemsttonepette]

No offense but 18 carat gold is the universal standard for any good diamond ring. America sells 10 carat & 14 carat gold but their top end jewellery is all 18 carat. And GIA graded diamonds of this quality is about as top end as you are ever likely to see.

Even the Chinese market with their obsession with 24 carat gold make all their diamond rings in 18 carat. There is nothing better.

[lyndal1838]

---

@gemsttonepette wrote:

No offense but 18 carat gold is the universal standard for any good diamond ring. America sells 10 carat & 14 carat gold but their top end jewellery is all 18 carat. And GIA graded diamonds of this quality is about as top end as you are ever likely to see.

Even the Chinese market with their obsession with 24 carat gold make all their diamond rings in 18 carat. There is nothing better.

---

Yes, I know high end diamond rings are usually made in 18 carat, but not in America, which is why I suggested the OP should ask where the ring was made if she is wanting to dispute the import duties.  10 and 14 carat is far more usual in the USA.